Kentucky Public Service Commission Considers Abbreviated Notice for Upcoming Rate Adjustments

The Kentucky Public Service Commission has issued a regulatory document outlining a renewed motion by Kentucky Utilities Company and Louisville Gas and Electric Company to provide an abbreviated notice of their upcoming rate adjustments. The Companies propose to publish shorter notices in newspapers, estimated to cost approximately $100,000, in place of the full notice required by Section 17(4) of the Commission's Rules of Procedure. The full notice, estimated to cost approximately $800,000, includes detailed information on the proposed rate changes and their effects.

To ensure public awareness of the proposed rate adjustments, the Companies plan to take several additional steps, including making a complete copy of the full Section 17(4) notice available upon request, posting the abbreviated notice on their websites and on the outside doors of their offices, and including a bill insert in customers' regular billing cycles. The Companies believe that these measures will result in significant cost savings to customers without reducing public awareness of the proposed rate adjustments.

The Companies also argue that good cause exists for the Commission to permit deviations from the rules, citing the significant savings to customers and the lack of any significant reduction in public awareness of the proposed rate adjustments. They respectfully request the Commission enter an order no later than May 5, 2025, authorizing the use of abbreviated notices and granting all other appropriate relief.

Key Takeaways:

• Kentucky Utilities Company and Louisville Gas and Electric Company have filed a renewed motion to provide an abbreviated notice of their upcoming rate adjustments.
• The Companies propose to publish shorter notices in newspapers, estimated to cost approximately $100,000, in place of the full notice required by Section 17(4) of the Commission's Rules of Procedure.
• The full notice, estimated to cost approximately $800,000, includes detailed information on the proposed rate changes and their effects.
• The Companies plan to take additional steps, including making a complete copy of the full Section 17(4) notice available upon request, posting the abbreviated notice on their websites and on the outside doors of their offices, and including a bill insert in customers' regular billing cycles.
• The Companies argue that good cause exists for the Commission to permit deviations from the rules, citing the significant savings to customers and the lack of any significant reduction in public awareness of the proposed rate adjustments.
• The Companies respectfully request the Commission enter an order no later than May 5, 2025, authorizing the use of abbreviated notices and granting all other appropriate relief.

Statistics:

• Estimated cost of publishing the full notice: approximately $800,000.
• Estimated cost of publishing the abbreviated notice: approximately $100,000.
• Proposed savings to customers through the use of abbreviated notices: significant.

Sources:

• Kentucky Public Service Commission, Commonwealth of Kentucky Before the Public Service Commission, In the Matter of: Electronic Application of Kentucky Utilities Company for an Adjustment of its Electric Rates and Approval of Certain Regulatory and Accounting Treatments, Case No. 2025-00113.
• Kentucky Public Service Commission, Commonwealth of Kentucky Before the Public Service Commission, In the Matter of: Electronic Application of Louisville Gas and Electric Company for an Adjustment of its Electric and Gas Rates, and Approval of Certain Regulatory and Accounting Treatments, Case No. 2025-00114.
• Kentucky Public Service Commission, Rules of Procedure, Section 17(4).